Here’s a quick insight into the book – The Life Changing Magic of Tidying – The Japanese Art by Marie Kondo.

 

Well worth a gander or listen in my humble opinion.

Marie has dedicated years of her life to perfect the art of tidying and she firmly believes that tidying is a learnt skill and we simply can’t get better at it just through practice and experience.

Choosing this book was all a bit surreal in itself. I had just signed up to my libraries’ audible book borrowing service and this book was my first loan. I really feel that it kind of jumped out at me – could it be fate?

I don’t know about you but I always feel like my house is a tip even after a big clean up? I have so much stuff.

This book offers to “change your life forever”, in that, putting your house in order affects other areas of your life such as work and family. It claims that tidying changes your way of thinking and approach to life and can change the future. As we put our affairs and past in order we will see more clearly that which we need and don’t need in life.

Sounds simple enough.

It offers a structured plan of how to discard and organize in one go, by location not category as we often keep many of the same things in different locations in the home.   Once we know what we want to keep, there is advice on how to store these items correctly.

There are sections on organizing clothes, books, papers, sentimental items to name but a few.

By following her ethos we should finally get past the common mistake of just putting things away which creates an illusion that the clutter problem has been solved.

To put it into practice is another kettle of fish entirely.

So far, I’ve managed to make a start on clothes by sorting my sock and underwear drawers and folding my gym clothes away using her method.

I have to admit, it felt good.

Just yesterday I ended up discussing the storage of fitness clothing and all the paraphernalia we keep at home with a good friend of mine.  I shared my new method of folding and storing my gym wear but we were both stumped on how to store all the equipment she’d collected, things like an ab wheel, yoga mat, kettlebell and hula hoops. It can seem untidy to have these items scattered about the house ready for action, but on the other hand, if they’re hidden away she may well forget to use them.

We both had a suggestion. Either take a photo of your equipment and stick it on the fridge or a noticeboard to remind you. Or, you could dot several snaps around the house of you participating in exercise. It doesn’t have to be the same thing you use the equipment for, it could be cycling or walking. Hopefully this will give you a little nudge, especially on a wet day, that you can still get those endorphins flowing even if you can’t get outside.

I’m not sure if i’ll ever have time to go the whole hog and perfect the art of tidying, but I remain optimistic.

Maybe on the next rainy day, if I’m not hula hooping……………

Let me know what you think if you get the chance to read the book for yourself.